Multiple valve



- Apll'zl, 195,3 A. E. THURBER, JR 2,635,634

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MULTIPLE VALVE Filed Dec. 7, 1945 SHEETS-SHEET 2 3 7720/ bei; Ji?

Zia/uy# gft/f @www Patented pr. 21, h1953l '5 UNITED vSTATES PATENT OFFICE MULTIPLE VALVE Adolph E. Thurber-,.n., Brooklyn, N. Y. Application December 7, 1945, Serial No. 633,462

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in valves and more particularly to a variable flow, solenoid controlled multiple valve.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a multiple valve including a main vvalve for controlling the ow of a liquid in combinal tion with auxiliary Valves for controlling the discharge of a control fluid from the main valve structure so that it is possible to open the main valve to various extents.

With the foregoing object outlined and with other objects in View which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel features hereinafter described in detail, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of an example of a multiple valve in which the invention is embodied.

Fig. 2 is a' top plan view of a half oi rsuch a valve.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of such half of the valve, partly in vertical section, and with some parts omitted to facilitate illustration.

Referring to theV drawings, 4 designates a main valve casing having an inlet 5 and an outlet 6, each provided with any suitable means, such as an apertured flange 1, to facilitate the installation of the valve in Va pipe line or the like.

The interior of the casing is divided by a partition 8 forming a vertically disposed port 9 surrounded at its upper end by an' annular valve seat I0, terminating at its top in a tapered ridge I I.

A reciprocating head I2, forming the active member oi the main valve, is provided with a gasket I3 which cooperates with the seat to prevent ow of liuid through port 9 when thehead is seated, and the gasket is preferably held in place by a disc shield Ill provided with a depending tapered annular ange I5 of substantially triangular shape, to prevent water hammer. The shield is secured to the head by any suitable means, such as a screw I6.

The head has an upstanding annular flange I'I, forming a small lower piston having a loose iit in a lower guide or cylinder I8, of an extension of the casing, so that uid entering the inlet 5 may flow past the piston into the cylinder.

The central portion of the active member of the valve extends upwardly above the flange I'I and terminates in an upper piston I9, of larger diameter than the lower piston, and movable in an upper cylinder or guide 26, projecting from the valve casing. VPiston rings 2| are provided on the periphery of the upper piston to prevent flow of fluid past that piston. In order to permit iiow of fluid from the cylinderY I8, above piston I'I, into the cylinder 29 above the upper piston, a by-pass l22 may be provided in the extension of the valve casing and may be controlled by a manually operated needle valve 23 'ory the like. Instead of using the by-pass, I may extend a port 24 through the upper piston and control it by a screw-threaded needle valve 25.

The wall of the cylinder 20 is provided with a series of liquid outlets 26, 2'I and 28, arranged at varying distances from the valve seat II) so they may be successively closed by piston I9. These outlets are associated with by-pass pipes 29, leading respectively to discharge ports 30, 3I and 32, communicating with the outlet 6. Each by-pass pipe has interposed therein, an auxiliary or pilot valve, designated respectively 33, 34 and 35, and each auxiliary valve may be controlled by any suitable means, `such as a solenoid 36. The pilot valves may be of the type disclosed in U. S. Patent 1,633,217, dated June 21, 1927.

Any suitable means for loading the valve head I2 may be employed for urging the same towards lits seat. For example, a coil spring 31 may be interposed between the piston I9 and the removable bonnet 38 of the valve.

In operation, assuming that the valve head I2 is seated on the seat Il), and all the pilot valves 33, 34 and 35 are in closedposition, if the circuit through the terminals of the solenoid of valve' 33, for example, is closed, the water in the cylinder 20 above piston I9 will escape through the outlet 26 into the pilot valve 33, and thence through the port 30 after passing through the by-pass pipe 29 which connects 33 and 30. This will permit piston I9, under the influence of the pressure below it, to rise until the piston closes the outlet 26 to a point where the flow of fluid from by-pass 22 is equal to the flow through 26. Of course, the capacity for fluid liow through 26 is somewhat greater than past needle valve 23 or 25, which allows the fluid in the chamber above the piston I9 to escape through 26 and thus remove the pressure on the top of the valve head I2, and as the piston I9 is somewhat larger than the valve seat, the fluid pressure in the valve body will lift the head I2 from its seat so as to allow uid to pass through the port 9 of the main valve. This flow will continue until the circuit through the terminals of the solenoid of valve 33 is interrupted, at which time the pilot valve 33 will stop ow through 2G, the fluid continuing to now into the chamber above the piston I9 until the pressure in such chamber Will force the valve head l2 to its seat and thus stop flow through the main valve. As the valve head l2 moves toward its seat, the shield I4 will prevent water hammer. This same procedure is duplicated by closing and opening the circuits of the solenoids of lpilot valves {Mi-andv 35 to permit any desired Vflow through the main valve. `It is just a matter of placing pilot valve ports in their proper positions on the upper portion of the Valve casing to permit the desired ilow from inlet 5 to outlet 6.

From the foregoing, it is believed the construction, operation and advantages 'ofthe multiple valve may be readily understoodand-.I am aware that changes may be made in the details disclosed without departing from the'spirit "of the invention, as expressed in the following claims:

*What-'I vr'ilaiin and-'desire'Y to secure by Letters Patent isz f1. "A normally closed .valve adapted to be moved tolaplurality of open positions comprisingfalvalver casing-provided with-'an inlet-and outlet; apartition within the casing obstructing theoutletv from the inlet landhaving a vpassage therethrough,fa valve head normally closing said passagefanactuating piston connected to said valve head, said casing and A"piston vvdefining a pressure chamber, means providing asmall passage be'etvveenV said pressurel chamber and said inlet, said'casinghaving -a plurality of outlet openings thereinin open communication with said'pre'ssure chamber, said' outlet'cpenings .being spacedalong a `line of movement ofsaid' piston, said outlet openings `being circumerentially spacedfrom "each other, `conduits-in communication'with each of said outlet openings extending: into communication `vvii'lh'said `outlet o1" the valve,'and a pilot valve'mountedin-'each of said conduit means Yadjacent the outside ofthe casing for Vselectively opening the respective conduits. y,

l:2. A normally 'closed valve adapted tobe moved to'a plurality of selected open positions comprising; a vvalve casing provided with lan inlet and outlet,'a partition Within the-casing having a passage therethrough, a valve seat associated with 'saidpassa'ga a'valve head normally engaging 'the'valve' *seatl andblocking movement of the liquid through said passage'a piston connected to the valve head, a cylinder forming a part of the casing guiding the piston and cooperating therewith to provide a closed pressure chamber, means providing a small passage from said inlet into communication with said pressure chamber, said cylinder having a series of outlet openings therein spaced from each other axially of the cylinder and at different distances from the valve seat, said outlet openingsbeing circumferentially spaced'from each` other, and a plurality of pilot valves supported on the outside of the casing lfor selectively opening and closing said outlet openings.

3. VA .normally closed valve adapted to be moved to a plurality of open positions comprisy`ir1g,'a Valve-*casing provided with an inlet and outlet, means within the casing obstructing the outlet from the inlet and having a hole therethrough with a valve seat therearound, a valve head normally blocking1-moveme1it of the liquid through the passage, ya :piston Acarried bythe valve head, a cylinderfon the casing for the piston and providing .a closed pressure chamber, ,means establishing a small passage fromsaid in let` into communication-with said pressure chamber, said -cylind'er lhaving ,a Vseries of outlet1 openings spaced along the'cylinder at diferent distances from the valve seatrland circumferentially spaced from eachother, 4each of said outlet openings being of a larger area than said passage, a valve for each outlet opening supported on the outside of the, casing` for. selectively i opening and closing said outletopenings, and a flange carriedby the valvehead partially obstructingsaid inlet.

ADOLPH; E. THURBER, J R.

References cited in the meer this patent lUNrriiD'STATES PATENTS 

